Where innovation and safety move forward, together.
Innovation is how we solve problems that matter, from housing affordability to the future of Alberta’s buildings and the equipment that support them, including electrical, gas, plumbing, elevating devices, and other systems regulated under Alberta’s Safety Codes Act.
Build Forward Alberta is an initiative by the Safety Codes Council to serve as a front door for innovation regulated by Alberta’s Safety Codes Act. We support innovators as they collaborate, experiment, and work toward launching solutions.
Why Build Forward Alberta exists
Alberta’s buildings and the equipment that support them protect the public and strengthen our competitive advantage, but innovation is impacted by a combination of labour, productivity, technological, cultural, financial, and regulatory challenges.
Build Forward Alberta aims to reduce friction in the innovation journey by lowering the time, cost, and frustration innovators experience. This work supports the Safety Codes Council’s strategy to be a world‑class safety codes leader that ensures public safety, drives prosperity, and enables a competitive advantage for Alberta.
What we’re exploring
We’re currently in the research and development (R&D) phase, learning about products and services that could support innovation of buildings and related equipment in Alberta, including:
- Regulatory and construction codes expertise and advisory support
- Funding and accelerator‑style services
- Networking events and partner matchmaking
- Testing facilities that provide expertise, equipment, and infrastructure
- A living lab where new products and processes are demonstrated
- A regulatory sandbox for industry demonstrations of real-life impacts of a new product or service
- Education and mentorship to improve understanding of how to innovate effectively in the regulatory environment for buildings and related equipment
Any future products or services will only be launched following Council recommendation and Ministerial consent.
What we’re learning
Innovation is shaped by the people developing, testing, adopting, and supporting new ideas. As part of Build Forward Alberta’s research and development work, we are engaging innovators, businesses, researchers, government, and industry partners to better understand the barriers and opportunities facing Alberta’s built environment.
Built World Founders’ Dinner: What we heard
In partnership with the Cities Institute at the University of Alberta, Build Forward Alberta hosted a founders’ discussion to explore barriers to innovation, opportunities for collaboration, and ways Alberta can strengthen its competitive advantage within the built environment. Insights from the discussion are helping inform Build Forward Alberta’s ongoing research into potential future products, services, partnerships, and initiatives.
Be part of the future of innovation in Alberta
Build Forward Alberta is being shaped by the people who innovate, regulate, and support Alberta’s buildings and the equipment that support them.
Sign up to receive updates on Build Forward Alberta, get involved in opportunities to support research and development or new products and services, book a free 30-minute demo, or to learn when new products and services are available.
For all related inquiries, email BuildForwardAlberta@safetycodes.ab.ca.